The Open Wireless Movement is a coalition of Internet freedom advocates, companies, organizations, and technologists working to develop new wireless technologies and to inspire a movement of Internet openness. We are aiming to build technologies that would make it easy for Internet subscribers to portion off their wireless networks for guests and the public while maintaining security, protecting privacy, and preserving quality of access.

15 Responses:

Yeah! Mine is called "Sharing is fun!" and then my address (so you can get closer to get a better signal if you need to). Most of my friends think I'm nuts, but I've had it open for five years and never really had a problem.

I love how their answer to "Will opening my network make me liable for others' illegal actions?" is "Uhh, we don't _think_ so. We _might_ be able to help. Hope you don't get raided by the cops." Sure, the chances are small, but if they're that small they should say "If this happens to you we absolutely have your back."

Also hilarious: "This might be against your TOS, so take that into consideration and stuff."

Here in Germany, this is pretty clear cut, sadly: You're liable for anything people do on your open wireless, and lawyers can send you letters going "Pay us a few hundred or thousand euros and never do that again or pay us even more", and you can't really do much about that unless you are really, really sure nobody did any copyright-infringing via your network and you're willing to spend a lot of money on your own lawyers.

What's the position when using WEP, for example, which isn't open but might as well be? 'Proof' that it was you doing the naughty, or an alibi on the basis that you did secure your network, but some nasty people hacked it?

But: One court also said: if you ever configured your connection to be save you cannot be expected to keep up-to-date with all the security details. So if you set up your WEP router 10 years ago and never touched that encyption since, you're safe. :)

So yes, "we think you won't be liable" is probably correct. That's because after the FBI raids your residence and confiscates your computer, they'll figure out it was your neighbor. I am absolutely sure that's correct - I trust the system more than most here - but just the same I'd rather no one forensically analyze my laptop. If those stories make me a jerk, well, at least I won't need a lawyer.

I think this is the operative quote:

"In all three cases, the accused ended up getting off the hook after their files were examined and neighbors were found to be responsible for downloading child porn via unsecured WiFi networks."

"the accused ended up getting off the hook after their files were examined and neighbors were found to be responsible"

But in the mean time, we found small amounts of marijuana, paraphernalia, and a single narcotics pill for which none of the residents had a prescription. So we convicted them for that to keep our numbers high and maintain funding.